Official News page 7

REAL LIFE NEWS: NYC COPS WANT YOUR CRIME PHOTOS

by Hazed

People who call 911 in New York or use the non-emergency 311 lines can now send photo and video footage from PCs or mobile phones to back up their reports. The city recently rolled out its new image software, developed over 18 months and costing $250,000, as part of a major campaign to improve the big apple's crime-busting IT infrastructure.

Actually, the photo-receiving capability isn't as high tech as it could be. When you call in a crime, if you say that you have video or photos available, you can't send them in right away - a detective from the NYPD's Real Time Crime Center will call you back to receive the images.

The Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that the new technology "should put a scare into every would-be criminal, because the chances of getting caught in the act is now better than ever." Given the ubiquity of mobile phones with cameras or videos built in, I am sure he's right!

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